Skip to Main Content


This information is provided free of charge by the Department of Industrial Relations from its web site at www.dir.ca.gov. These regulations are for the convenience of the user and no representation or warranty is made that the information is current or accurate. See full disclaimer at https://www.dir.ca.gov/od_pub/disclaimer.html.
 
Subchapter 6. Elevator Safety Orders
Article 11. Hand Elevators
Return to index
New query

§3077. Machinery and Equipment.


(a) Car Construction.

(1) Cars shall be enclosed on the sides not used for entrance. The deflection of the enclosure shall be not more than 1/4 inch when subjected to a force of 75 pounds applied perpendicularly to the car enclosure at any point. The enclosure shall be secured to the car platform or frame in such a manner that it cannot work loose or become displaced in ordinary service.

EXCEPTION: Sidewalk elevators.

(2) Car tops shall be provided for hand-powered freight elevators and shall comply with the requirements for tops on power-driven freight elevators, as enumerated in Section 3034

(c).

EXCEPTIONS:

1. Where all gates, when closed, come down to within 2 inches of the floor except the lowest landing gate.

2. Elevators having a rise of not more than 15 feet.

(3) The car shall be provided with an electric light controlled by a switch on the car, or on elevators with no car top and a rise of not more than 15 feet, the light may be at the top of the hoistway.

(4) Car frames and platforms shall be of metal or sound seasoned wood design with a factor of safety of not less than 4 for metal and 6 for wood, based on the rated load uniformly distributed.

Connections between frame members of the car frame and platform shall be riveted, bolted, or welded.

Sidewalk elevator platforms shall be provided with steel bow-irons to open the sidewalk doors.

(5) Glass shall not be used in elevator cars.

(b) Car Safety Devices.

(1) Hand elevators shall be provided with a car safety device.

EXCEPTION: Elevators installed before January 1, 1925, having a rise not exceeding 15 feet.

(2) Governor actuated safeties shall be located below the car platform and shall be approved by the division as required in Section 3106 and the governor and safety tested on each installation as required by Section 3035.

(3) Safety devices actuated by the breaking or slackening of the hoist cables shall be drop tested on each installation and the test shall be witnessed by a representative of the division.

(4) Where the travel exceeds 40 feet, driving machines having hand-operated brakes shall also be equipped with an automatic speed retarder.

EXCEPTION: Elevators installed before January 1, 1925.

(c) Capacity and Loading.

(1) The rated load of hand elevators shall be not less than 50 pounds per square foot of net inside car area.

(2) A metal plate shall be fastened in a conspicuous place in the elevator car and shall bear the following information in not less than 1/4 inch letters or figures; stamped, etched, or raised on the surface of the plate.

(A) Rated load in pounds.

(B) The maximum number of passengers to be carried based on 150 pounds per person (if passenger elevator).

(C) Suspension data required by Section 3077(i)(5).

(d) Load and Car Safety Test. A rated-load test and a test of the car safety device with rated load in the car, shall be made of every new elevator before it is placed in regular service. See Section 3077(b).

(e) Guide Rails and Fastenings.

(1) Cars and counterweights shall be provided with guide rails of steel or straight-grained seasoned wood.

(2) Guide rails for sidewalk elevators shall be of steel.

(3) Guide rails shall be securely fastened with through-bolts or clips of such strength, design, and spacing that:

(A) The guide rails and their fastenings shall not deflect more than 1/4 inch under normal operation.

(B) The guide rails and their fastenings shall withstand the application of the safety when stopping the car with rated load or when stopping the counterweight.

(4) Car and counterweight guide rails shall rest on suitable supports and extend at the top of the hoistway sufficiently to prevent the guide shoes from running off the guide rails in case the car or counterweight travels beyond the terminal landings.

(f) Counterweights. Sections of counterweights, whether carried in frames or not, shall be secured by at least two tie rods passing through holes in the sections. The tie rods shall have lock nuts at each end, secured by cotter pins.

(g) Driving Machines and Sheaves.

(1) The factors of safety, based on the static loads, to be used in the design of driving machines and sheaves shall be not less than 8 for wrought iron or wrought steel and 10 for cast iron or other materials.

(2) Driving machines shall be equipped with a hand brake or an automatic brake operating in either direction of motion of the elevator, and capable of stopping and holding the car with its rated load. When the brake has been applied, it shall remain in the "On" position until released by the operator.

(h) Power Attachments.

(1) Hand elevators shall not be equipped with any means or attachment for applying electric or other power.

(i) Suspension Means.

(1) Suspension means shall consist of not less than two wire ropes or chains.

(2) The factor of safety used in determining the size and number of the suspension members shall be not less than 5, based on the weight of the car and its rated load.

(3) The length of suspension means shall be such as to provide the minimum top car and counterweight clearances.

(4) Drum ends of suspension means shall be secured to the inside of the drum by clamps or babbitted sockets, and there shall be not less than one complete turn of the suspension means around the winding drum when the car or counterweight is resting on its buffers.

(5) The capacity plate required by Section 3077(c)(2)(C), shall state the size, rated ultimate strength, and material of the suspension means. The date of installation of the suspension means shall be shown on a metal tag attached to the suspension fastenings.

(j) Out-of-Service Requirements. When it is intended to discontinue the use of a hand powered elevator for an extended period of time, the cables shall be disconnected and the car and counterweights landed satisfactorily. HISTORY

1. New subsection (j) filed 6-23-77; effective thirtieth day thereafter (Register 77, No. 26).

2. Editorial correction of subsection (b)(2) (Register 95, No. 34).

3. Editorial correction of subsection (c)(2)(C) (Register 95, No. 41).

Go BackGo Back to Article 11 Table of Contents